ROADS are overcrowded and used by drivers who frequently break the speed limit, two new surveys confirm.

Traffic on the busiest roads could increase by an alarming 25% over the next seven years if the Government fails to act now by introducing a nationwide congestion charge, experts claim.

The controversial congestion charge - introduced in London four months ago - should be extended to other parts of the country, the report argues.

The report's authors claim that the amount of traffic on the roads could drop by as much as 19% with the introduction of a charge.

The document, Transport Pricing and Investment in England, claimed that if Mr Darling, who is believed to be in favour of widening the charge, dithered, the result could see the UK's network of roads reach bursting point.

Meanwhile, Government statistics reveal that 59% of car journeys are made beyond the speed limit.

According to Vehicle Speeds in Great Britain 2002, on roads with a 30mph speed limit 59% of cars exceeded that limit, with 25% travelling faster than 35mph.

More than half the cars on motorways and 46% of those on dual carriageways travelled faster than the speed limit allowed; 18% were being driven faster than 80mph on motorways and 14% on dual carriageways.

The survey also reveals a high incidence of speeding by heavy-goods vehicles on built-up 30mph roads